Lighter



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May 4, 1943. A. s. WESTON LIGHTER Filed Dec. 30, 1940 May 4, 1943. A. s. wl-:s'roN LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1940 ffl/0621507",

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Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE udma Alexander sydney wenen, New Yoran. v.v Appui-.enen neeember so, 1940, serien Ne. 372,266

1 claim. (ci. rz-1.1)

This invention relates to lighters for cigars, cigarettes and for similar uses, and has for its main object to provide a lighter of a novel improved construction, which will be more eilicient than the lighters now in use.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a lighter. in whichL convenient means are provided to carry a reserve stock of spark producing iiints within the lighter.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device as characterized hereinbefore, in which novel means are provided against the loss of combustion mixture, or liquid vapors, or to retard such loss.

Still another object of my-invention is vto provide a lighter in which novel means are arranged to feed oxygen to the ame and to prevent an easy extinguishing thereof, thereby making my novel lighter practically wind and storm proof. e 1 i 5 Other objects of this invention will be apparent as the specication of the same proceeds, and among others I may mention: to provide a device of the character indicated hereinbefore, which with all the improvements mentioned still will he inexpensive to manufacture, low in price, which will have ar novel shape and design, attractive and estheticjn appearance, and still specifically adapted for the objects of my invention, vand which will have an ornamental top serving at the same time as a magazine for the spare ints.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciflcation and accompanying the same:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel lighter in a closed position, and

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view of the assembled lighter in a closed position and on a much larger scale than the earlier figures; l

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional side elevation of the central portion or main body of the lighter with the bottom cap attached thereto;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectionaldetail of the upper end of the tube containing the flint and spark wheel;

Figs. 6 and 'I are cross sectional plan views on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 4, and 1-1 of Fig. 3, respectively, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the middle or central section of it may snugly slide over the main body section I I. The bottomcap section I3 also comprises a hollow IG The middle or main section I I is arranged in a cylindrical housing AI4 having a. closed-bottom I3 and an open top I6 'and preferably being made of some appropriate thin sheet metal material. The upper or top sectionl2 also has -a cylindrical hollow body I6a, open at the bottom I1 and closed at the top I8, its inner diameter 'being such that cylinder I9 open at the top as at 20, having a closed bottom 2| and being substantially of identical ldiameter to the top section adapted to slide over the middle section I I, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

VA narrow tube 22 is arranged adjacent to the wall of the central section I I, which tube I prefer to call the int tube, and from the upper end of the int tube, an ear or tongue 23l is struck out, while a corresponding slot or aperture 2d' is provided in the Wallof the middle section II, said ear or tongue 23 being bent outwardly passed through said slot 2li and then bent over the wall of the section i I in a downward direction, thereby securing the iiint tube 22 in its position.

An indentation 25, may be provided in the wall of the section II, whereby the downward bent portion of the ear or tongue 23 may be iiush with the rest of the cylindrical 'housing I4 To further secure'the flint tube in the middle section Il, the lower end 26 of the tube is passed through a circular opening in the bottom I5 of said section and is bent or riveted down over the edge of said opening. Toinsure a better sealing of the tube in said aperture in the bottom I5, I preferably pour a small amount of solder in a hot liquid condition over the bottom I3 within the middle section II when assembling my device, said solderyupon cooling forming a thin layer 21 thereover tightly sealing the ilint tube 22 within said bottom.

At the upperend of the flint tube, two identicaloppositely placed projections'28 and 29 are.

. provided, having the rotatable knurled spark prothe housing of my lighter indicating the three apertures provided therein.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail v by characters of reference, my assembled lighter is indicated in general by the numeral I and is composed of three main parts or sections being ducing wheel 30 arranged between them on a shaft 3|. The lower portion 32 of the int tube 22 is screw threaded and a regulating and adjust-- ing screw 33 is arranged therein. -A helical spring 34 is placed over said screw and the spark producing flint 35 is pressed by salid spring against the spark wheel 30, as it is well known in this art.

A comparatively heavy layer of wick fabric 36 l is arranged around the circumference of the cylindrical housing I4 of the middle portion, its

ends 36a and 36h being spaced apart to leave room for the flint tube 22. A cylindrical hollow space 31 is thus produced within the wicker 36 and the lower portion thereof is f illed with an appropriate material 38, like cotton, said material being the carrier of thel combustion vapor producing liquid, like gasoline, ether, or some ap..

'the wall thereof and through the wick lining 85,

and two smaller holes 4I are provided in said wall opposite to said large hole 39 and preferably equi-distantly placed from the diameter passing through the large hole 89.l The bottom cap portion I8 of my device may have an absorbent lining 42 arranged over its bottom, said lining preferably being formed of a plurality of thin layers of textile material, like cotton, tightly pressed one over the other. I found that a cotton sheet, made as indicated hereinabove and being sold on the market under the name Lintine by the firm Johnson 8: Johnson of New Brunswick, N. J.. is highly satisfactory for such lining.

' An outwardly curved bead 43 is formed in the wall I4 of the middle section to provide an upper limit for the sliding of the bottom section I3 thereover, and similarly, a lower` limit for the downward sliding of the top section I2.

The closed top I8 of the top section is bent inwardly in a counter-sunk manner to provide a cylindrical socket 44 with a closed bottom 45. A hollow sheet metal body`46, which I prefer to call the magazine forthe reserve ilints, is placed into said socket 44 with its cylindrical bottom portion 41, while its upper portion 48 projects over the closed topA I8 of the device, and screw threads are pressed into its wall. A spherical body 49 is provided to close the open upper end of the-portion 48 of the ilint magazine, said ball or sphere 49 having a bore or socket 50, the lower desired degree against the wheel I by the reaulating screw 38, and when it is used upthe same may be replaced by'another one from the reserve magazine of ilints. In this manner I provide a device which may carry thereserve nints in its own construction, whereby the same may be used for a long time. while with the lighters in use at present. dimculty and inconvenience is experi' enced once the ilint is used up.

As has been mentioned, it also is my experience that the flame will be more resisting against wind and storm than inI any of the similar devices used at present.

Finally, it has been my experience that the combustible liquid in my device will lastl much longer than in the other lighters oi' similar construction at present in use, which I attribute to the sealing layer 21 in the bottom of the middle section. 1

portion 5| of which is similarly screw threaded as the portion 48 of the flint magazine. In this manner, ball 49 maybe closed down upon said magazine by their cooperating screw threads and in the manner indicated in Fig. 3.

Aplurality of reserve ilints are arranged in the magazine 41, and preferably I also employ a cork stopper 52 in the open upper screw threaded part 48 thereof for better sealing and to prevent an unnecessary rattling of the ilints 35.

'I'he reserve nint magazine or container 41 may` be secured within the counter-sunk socket 44 of t e top I8 of the device by a rivet 53. A lining 5 identical in character to the lining 42 of the bottom capi, may be provided for the upper cap I2.

The use and operation of my lighter Iwill be obvious from the drawings and the herein description. Y

Normally the device is in a closed position, as indicated in lIlg. 3.

When it is desired to use it, the upper cap i2 will be pulled oi the middle section II using'the ball shape head 49 as a grip for this operation,l and the spark Wheel quickly rotated in the direction of arrow 55, producing a succession of sparks from the upper end of the iiint 35. The combustible liquid will rise in the \Wlck lining 36 by capillary action and will evaporate from the open upper end 51 of said Wick, and the ame will be produced by the spark 56 igniting .the vapors of the liquid around the upper end of the wicker 35, as it is well known.

A draft of air will be produced by the action of the large hole 39, and the opposite two small holes 4I feeding oxygen to the flame. so that the flame will not be extinguished even in a strong wind or storm. When it is desired to extinguish This result may also be aided by the lining 54. whichmay absorb and condense the vapors from the wick and the liquid saturated cotton in -my device, which vapors in similar vlighters now in use will slowly seep out of the closed lighter or are freed when the upper cap I2 is removed preparatory to using the lighter. n Lining 42 in the bottom cap I3 is for a similar purpose, but it mainly is intended to be used when no sealing layer 21 is provided in the bottom I5 of the central or main section I I of my lighter, and when fuel vapors may better escape around the bottom of the flint tube 22 and then from the vacant space in the bottom cap I9.

In Fig. 4, the numerals I 2a and lila indicate elongated outwardly projecting indentations in the wall of the middle section Il, whereby the frlctional engagement between said section and the upper cap I2 and lower cap I3, respectively,

will be increased, as it is Well known in this art.

While I want to emphasize that I have deam aware of the fact that changes and variations may be resorted to in its elements, in the. construction and combination of its parts, and I reserve my rights ,to all such changes and variations which are within the spirit of this specification and the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

What I claim as new is:

In a cigarette lighter, having an elongated hollow casing for the operating parts thereof, a removable closure cap over the open upper end of said casing, a flint spark producing device in said casing, a countersunk top for said closure cap, a hollow body fitting into the countersunk portion of said cap, adapted to be used as a container for reserve ilints, a hollow cylindrical upper portion for said hollow body projecting over said cap, screw threads pressed into the wall of said cylindrical portion, and a closure ball having a screw threaded recess therein whereby to be threaded over said cylindrical portion and normally to serve as a closure for the same and as a grip for pulling oil said cap from said casing when it is desired to use the lighter. said ball being adapted to be unscrewed from said cylindrical portion when itis desired to open said container for the reserve ints, the bottom of said container being secured to the bottom of said countersunk top of the cap.

ALEXANDER SYDNEY WESTON. 

